This document provides a brief overview of reasons to study church history, including: 1) To see how God used both virtuous and flawed people to accomplish his purposes. 2) To understand each historical era in its proper context rather than imposing modern views. 3) To learn from the mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them.

1. very
A brief history of the church

4. 1. Introduction 8. The Reformation (the
2. The Church Fathers British Isles)
3. Creeds, Councils, and 9. The Puritans
Heretics 10. Colonial America
4. Eastern Orthodoxy 11. 1st and 2nd Great
5. Roman Catholicism Awakenings
6. The Crusades and Islam 12. Missionary Movements
7. The Reformation 13. To the future
(Continental Europe)

5. Why study
church history?
Today we will
examine how a study
of the past might
serve to
warn, exhort, and
edify us in the
present.

7.  The invisible church consists of all believers
throughout history.
 The visible church is a physical manifestation of the
invisible church and is flawed.
 We must not evaluate the invisible church according to
the actions of the visible church.

8.  A record of God’s
leading of the
visible church
 Why is this
important to
keep in mind?

9.  1. To see the great variety of people God uses to accomplish
His purposes, including those who were only interested in
their own glory or who openly opposed Him.
 Can you think of an example of how God used a villain in
history to accomplish His purpose?

10.  2. To realize that each generation was a product of its
own time.
 We must carefully study the historical/cultural context
before we pass judgment.
 We must not impose our time and culture on the past.
 Every culture has its blind spots; we must work to be
aware of our own areas of weakness and failing.
 How does this differ from cultural relativism (a view that
ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them)?

11.  3. To learn the lessons
of the past so that we
may not repeat their
mistakes.
 No one in church
history is perfect.
Even the greatest
heroes of the faith
were badly flawed.
 Why does God use
broken vessels?

12.  4. To recognize our part in the flow of God’s
redemptive history and its effect upon us.
 In Acts, we see the beginning of the church.
 In Revelation, we see the end—the church triumphant.
 We are in between these two points.

13.  5. To recognize that even though the church went
through many "dark periods" it was and still is God's
witness.
 God always has a remnant.

14.  6. To realize that God has a
plan for his church and that
He will see it through every
difficulty until Christ's
return. It is His church, not
ours.
 Our responsibility is to be
faithful.
 Martin Luther said "If I
knew Jesus was coming
back in 24 hours I would
plant an apple seed today."
Question for contemplation: to what role has God called you in the church
today? How can you be faithful in fulfilling that calling?

15.  7. To learn from the many good examples and be
inspired by the diverse ways in which God has used
men and women throughout history.

16.  8. To learn that controversies aren't necessarily bad.
 How do you think controversy might help the church?
 The church was sharpened and shaped by controversy.
 Controversy makes us aware of what we believe.
 Controversy helps us focus on what is true.
 Controversy can help us learn to examine issues without
making it personal.

17.  9. We have a model for the
study of church history in
the Bible itself: Hebrews 11.
 What is the purpose of the
“Heroes of the Faith”
chapter of Hebrews?
 What does the author
choose as his focus in each
of the Old Testament
accounts listed?

18.  10. To realize that we are creating our own history and
that we will be studied someday.
What will our testimony
to future generations be?